Report/gallery: Magdaleno vs. Davis

Diego Magdaleno was told by Bob Arum and Top Rank that 2012 would be his year and after his performance on Saturday night, it looks like they were right. Fighting in his backyard at the Texas Station Hotel & Casino, the NABF Super Featherweight champion pleased the hometown crowd with a dominating performance that was punctuated with a 4th round TKO stoppage of Antonio Davis.

With the victory, Magdaleno put himself in position to fight for a world title by the end of 2012 — perhaps on the undercard of Manny Pacquiao’s November fight in Las Vegas. Based on his performance, it’s a title shot well earned.

“I’m ready,” Magdaleno (23-0, 8 KOs) said about challenging for a world title in an arena like the MGM Grand Garden Arena rather than a ballroom after his victory. As for Davis (29-8), he certainly wasn’t ready for what Magdaleno had in store for him.

Magdaleno has showcased improved punching power over the past couple of years by scoring knockouts in four of his last six fights. With this newfound torque, the southpaw confidently pressed forward as Davis was unable to land anything significant to alter the 25-year-old’s strategy. And the strategy was simple.

“The plan was to attack, break down the body and get him out of there,” said Magdaleno. Magdaleno took advantage of the 40-year-old’s age and made early deposits into the body bank that would pay off in dividends as the fight progressed. Seemingly motivated by younger brother Jesse Magdaleno’s knockout the evening before on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights, the elder brother ramped up the pressure as each round passed. The ripping shots to the torso of “T-Rex” sapped the fight out of him and left him vulnerable to Diego’s upstairs attack.

“I was more surprised by his awkwardness than his inability to attack,” Magdaleno said. “I was picking up that he wanted to land one big shot. I wouldn’t let him though and kept my distance using my jab.”

In the fourth round, Magdaleno used that jab — along with the fact that he kept Davis’ hands low courtesy of the body work — to set up a right lead uppercut that smashed Davis and sent him staggering down queer street. Magdaleno quickly hopped on his prey and unleashed a barrage of punches with bad intentions that knocked Davis everywhere but down on the canvas. As referee Joe Cortez looked on, Davis’ corner could be seen climbing the stairs with toss in the towel. But Magdaleno was relentless and continued his blitz until Cortez finally decided to rescue the damaged Davis from further harm at the 2:59 mark.

With the win, it was announced to FightNews that Magdaleno is set to face the winner of the upcoming WBO title eliminator bout between Rocky Martinez and Miguel Beltran, Jr. — Andreas Hale

Benavidez Jr. thumps Loya in four

It looked more like a bullfight than a boxing match. In a battle of unbeaten welterweights, Jose Benavidez Jr. played the matador the reckless charging style of Javier Loya , earning a fourth round TKO win at 1:41 in the evening’s co-main event.

From the outset, Loya’s fight IQ was in question. He repeatedly charged in with his head up and gloves down and was on the receiving end of counter lefts from Benavidez (16-0, 13 KOs). A stiff left hook at the minute and a half mark in the opener sent Loya (7-1, 6 KOs) to the canvas for the bout’s only knockdown.

In the fourth, Benavidez caught Loya rushing in again, delivering a crushing left hook. Unlike the countless other hooks that landed, Loya retreated, allowing Benavidez to go on the offensive. Against the ropes, Loya looked like a fish out of water as Benavidez teed off with lefts and rights to the body and head. After numerous unanswered punches, referee Tony Weeks did the right thing and halted the bout. — Anthony Springer Jr.

Mike Lee Wins Again

Former Notre Dame boxing standout Mike Lee continued his unbeaten campaign at light heavyweight with a second round TKO of Tyler Seever. In what has become a customary view whenever Lee fights, a sea of gold and blue t-shirts worn by his cheering squad, Lee put on an impressive performance. After a feeling out session in the first round, Lee (10-0, 6 KOs) opened up in the second and sent Seever down with a combination and a chopping right hand. As his fans roared, The Fighting Pride of the Irish sensed that the end was near and stalked Seever (13-12) in pursuit of the finish. Although the Missouri fighter did his best to fend off Lee’s attack, there was little he could do to stop a big 1-2 combination, anchored by a right hand that crushed Seever and sent him falling backwards. Referee Russell Mora saw no need in counting and immediately stopped the fight at the 1:36 mark. — Andreas Hale

Santillan’s two knockdowns seal victory

In a four round super lightweight attraction, Giovani Santillan (4-0, 2 KOs) scored knockdowns in the first two rounds and cruised to a 40-34 unanimous decision over Joaquin Chavez. Although Santillan dropped Chavez (1-2-2) with the first straight left hand he threw seconds into the fight, Chavez proved to be durable and survived the four round affair. But survival doesn’t equal victory and Santillan landed the heavier shots throughout to earn the decision. — Andreas Hale

Rodriguez Drops Morales

The Robert Garcia trained Saul Rodriguez (6-0, 5 KOs) collected his 5th career stoppage when he scored a devastating 3rd round TKO over Jose Morales (6-4, 1 NC). The 19-year-old struggled with his poise as the two featherweights swung for the fences early on. However, the 3rd round saw a more collected Rodriguez slam a well placed left hook into his opponent’s face and immediately turned the lights out on Morales. With Morales out cold and lying face first, referee Russell Mora saw no need to count and immediately called the fight off at the :26 mark. — Andreas Hale

Turner overwhelms Schmidt

After Billy Schmidt (1-1-2) came out throwing heavy leather, he was unable to take as good as he gave, as Tommy Turner (3-2) earned a first round TKO victory at 2:36. A big right hook staggered the Arizona fighter and it was all downhill from there. The “Samurai” followed that up with a pair of left hooks and a right uppercut. One big right hook floored Schmidt who bounced up on rubber legs. Referee Joe Cortez didn’t bother to administer a count, waving off the fight after taking a good look at Schmidt. — Anthony Springer Jr.

Williams tops Hougue

“The Mighty Midget” Tremaine Williams continued his winning ways, defeating Jazzma Hougue (2-2-1) by way of unanimous decision in a four-round super bantamweight action. William beaet Hougue to the punch consistently through the affair, and caught the man on the losing end with a pair of hooks in the third round that drew a pair of “ooh’s” from the Texas Station crowd in Las Vegas. All three judges scored it 40-36. Williams improves to 3-0. — Anthony Springer Jr